Hi Kicksters!<br>
I read Bregers Race Report and I hope that he doesn't mind my quoting it here as I thought it was a great post with some valuable information in it.<br><br>
Breger over at RA say's:<br><i>Last weekend I had a very unexpected and discouraging DNF in my HM that came out of the blue. I didn't hide the fact that I DNF'd. So I certainly won't hide the fact that I had some important and painful lessons to learn.<br><br><b>1. Slow down and adjust goals on high H&H days.</b><br><br>
I've been telling anyone who races down here that they must make adjustments if they happen to get a high H&H day on race day. Some listen, some don't. I didn't listen enough to my own advice. I adjusted my goals downward, but apparently not far enough. Even though I train in this stuff year around and get fairly acclimated, a high H&H day takes it out of me bigtime.<br><br><b>2. A single Stepback week of Tapering isn't enough (for me). Otherwise known as: Base building and racing are mutually exclusive (for me).</b><br><br>
We're all physically different, so your mileage may vary here. But I had been doing some marathon training base building coming into this race and thought that taking an easy Stepback week before the HM would be sufficient to act as a mini-taper to enable me to race well. Not.<br><br><b>3. Be sure you're fully recovered from illness. Get a checkup if the rundown feeling persists.</b><br><br>
I had been sick 3 weeks before the race and skipped the Miami HM. I also took off almost that whole week, except for a few short, slow runs. When I felt better I jumped right back into the base building and got the mileage back up. That went pretty well - I thought - but the lack of energy and high resting HR were a sign to me. I knew that but didn't think through why sufficiently.<br><br><b>4. Eat right before a race.</b><br><br>
4A - The night before the race I ate a dinner of BBQ Ribs, Waffle Fries, and Peanut Butter Cream pie. Yummmmm! But stupid. Next time I'll eat the pasta I intended to eat.<br><br>
4B - I had recently become a snack hound, eating chips, chocolates, peanuts, fritos, yada, yada. "Gee, where are those extra pounds coming from?" Stupid again. The chips will stay (hey, I'm human!), the other stuff is done for.<br><br><b>5. Check the ego and pride at the starting line.</b><br><br>
In the future if I find it's not my day, swallow the pride and finish with what you got on that day. I let my pride tell me I didn't want to slow down though my HR was sky-high right from the start. I allowed myself to DNF rather than just finish. (That hurts a lot to have to say.) I will never DNF again, unless an injury is the reason.<br><br><b>6. It's not really that important in the grand scheme of things.</b><br><br>
My DW gave me this lesson - "If that's the worst thing that ever happens to you, you're lucky". She's right of course.<br><br><b>7. I am not talented enough to do this on my own.</b><br><br>
(Please forgive my faith reference here, but for me this is important.) God wanted me to learn something on this day. I need His help and I need to listen when He has something to tell me. Enough said.<br><br>
Bill</i><br><br><br>
Glad you didn't hurt yourself Bill. Larry
